Target Field in Minneapolis was already going to serve as a picturesque backdrop for the 2022 NHL Winter Classic, but the freezing temperature produced even more compelling images than the league's typical stadium spectacles.

The open-air contest, which the St. Louis Blues won 6-4 over the Minnesota Wild, was the coldest outdoor game in NHL history based on the minus-8 degrees Fahrenheit reading recorded at puck drop, according to Bally Sports Midwest.

Here are 10 indelible images from the chilly tilt:

The Blues hilariously arrived at the ballpark in beach clothes despite the subzero conditions.

The cold left several of the players, including Blues captain Ryan O'Reilly, with some frozen facial hair.

Jordan Kyrou could see his breath, but he had the hot hand, too. The Blues forward ultimately collected two goals and two assists, setting an NHL outdoor game record with four points in the win.

The spotlight shone on Wild star Kirill Kaprizov during pregame introductions, and he would ultimately be the best player for the home squad, notching a goal and two assists.

Playing under the lights is always scenic, and Saturday night was no different.

Kyrou celebrated his second goal of the game in style.

The Blues' Robert Thomas and Wild's Ryan Hartman got acquainted after falling to the ice together in the third period.

The aerial view of the field showed off the full scope of the hockey setup.

Sure, the Wild lost, but that didn't stop the Target Field crew from setting off some impressive fireworks.

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Most of the major NHL storylines this year were of a negative nature, and they ranged from disappointing and frustrating to downright disturbing. However, there were also some bright spots in an otherwise difficult 2021.

Here are the league's 10 biggest stories of the year:

COVID-19 continues to proliferate

The pandemic affected the NHL as it did the world at large for much of 2021, even before the Omicron variant made things significantly worse. Players, coaches, and staff members landed in protocol throughout the year. The Montreal Canadiens had to place bench boss Dominique Ducharme on the list during the playoffs, making him miss the first two games of the Stanley Cup Final.

The emergence of the Delta variant left the league largely unchanged at the start of the 2021-22 season. Omicron's arrival forced the NHL to take drastic measures regarding the Olympics and its own schedule as more than 100 players entered protocols. The NHL postponed over 60 games and expanded its holiday break from three days to six in an effort to stop the spread.

Play resumed on Tuesday, and the league later aligned with recent CDC guidance by cutting its isolation period in half for vaccinated players. But the spike in cases and some poor planning by the IIHF also led to the cancellation of the World Junior Championship midway through the tournament on Wednesday. It's clear COVID-19 is likely to remain a significant concern both for the NHL and society as a whole in 2022.

Blackhawks scandal

The Chicago Blackhawks' sexual abuse scandal shook the NHL to its core. In late October, the results of an independent investigation led to resignations both within the organization - most notably general manager Stan Bowman - and from others like Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville, who had been Chicago's bench boss in 2010.

The probe revealed Blackhawks management failed to act promptly after learning about allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior toward a player during the team's playoff run that year. Kyle Beach, a player who was referred to but not named in the investigation, later revealed himself as the "John Doe" from the lawsuit he filed against the team in May. Beach said in the lawsuit that then-video coach Brad Aldrich sexually assaulted him and another player in 2010 and that the team covered it up.

Beach's courageous decision to come forward and the fallout from the independent inquiry forced the NHL to act, but the league did little to address the matter. Commissioner Gary Bettman held a video call with Beach, during which the ex-player questioned the league's handling of his allegations. Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly held a press conference to discuss the NHL's response but were criticized for not taking more responsibility and ignoring TSN's Rick Westhead - whose reporting on the story was the most consequential - until other media members called them out on his behalf.

In December - less than a week before Beach and the Blackhawks reached a confidential settlement - the league extended its "commitment to inclusion, diversity, safety, and respect," which included mandatory training sessions for all team personnel. But between the 90-minute sessions and the $2-million fine (relative to the team's reported $1.4-billion net worth) the NHL imposed on the Blackhawks in October, the league's actions in the wake of the scandal remain insufficient.

Canadiens draft Logan Mailloux

Most of the hockey world was shocked when the Montreal Canadiens selected Logan Mailloux in July's draft. The Canadiens chose the London Knights defenseman with the 31st pick despite the fact that he asked for his name to be withdrawn from consideration three days earlier.

Mailloux made the request in light of being fined for invasion of privacy and defamation in 2020 after taking an offensive photo of a woman without her consent during a sexual encounter and distributing it.

Bettman didn't hold back when asked about Montreal's decision to draft Mailloux, saying he was "stunned" and what the player did was "horrific." Some called on the Canadiens to renounce the pick, and even Canadian Prime Minister and lifelong Habs fan Justin Trudeau voiced his concern, saying he was "deeply disappointed" with the club.

The OHL suspended Mailloux indefinitely in September. The league ultimately reinstated him Wednesday, citing the fact the 18-year-old had taken part in therapy and counseling since being temporarily banned.

Olympic participation

The NHL ultimately decided against taking part in the upcoming Beijing Olympics due to the aforementioned spike in COVID-19 cases.

However, from a tentative 18-day Olympic break in the NHL schedule to the competing countries naming management personnel, coaches, and even a few players per squad, the league's participation seemed plausible for the vast majority of the year until it suddenly became evident it wasn't.

While it's disappointing the games will once again lack a best-on-best hockey tournament, the NHL unquestionably made the right decision.

Kucherov misses regular season, then helps Bolts repeat

The Tampa Bay Lightning claimed their second consecutive championship when they vanquished the Montreal Canadiens over five games in July. The star-studded and well-rounded club remained on top despite playing without Nikita Kucherov for the entire 2021 regular season due to injury.

The Lightning gained some financial flexibility by placing the Russian star on long-term injured reserve before activating him for the playoffs - when the cap no longer applies. Tampa Bay's detractors complained about this throughout the campaign, but by all accounts, the team did nothing illicit in the process.

Those who whined about the Lightning's cap gymnastics should've instead directed their ire toward the league's own rules. Kucherov is on LTIR once again in 2021-22 after getting hurt three games in, and the Lightning have remained near the top of the standings without him.

Kraken released

The NHL's first expansion team since 2017-18 joined the league for real this past year. Yes, the Seattle Kraken franchise was born in December 2018 and revealed its name in July 2020. Beginning with free agency and the expansion draft, the club took shape and then took the ice in 2021.

Seattle made a few splashes in free agency and could have done so in the draft, but instead opted to pass on big-ticket stars like Carey Price and Vladimir Tarasenko in favor of more affordable selections. That strategy might pay off down the road, and there was no way rival general managers would let the Kraken fleece them as the Vegas Golden Knights did four years ago. But, ultimately Seattle has been underwhelming so far in its inaugural campaign.

Still, the Kraken's arrival was a significant subplot this year, and after hearing so much about Seattle's potential as an NHL market, it was fun to see that assertion validated with raucous home crowds. If and when the team starts winning, Climate Pledge Arena could be one of the loudest buildings in the league.

McDavid's dominance

No NHL player had a better calendar year than Connor McDavid. The Edmonton Oilers superstar racked up a mind-boggling 105 points over 56 games last season en route to becoming the first unanimous Hart Trophy winner since Wayne Gretzky and only the second ever.

McDavid isn't quite maintaining that absurd pace in the current campaign, but he's once again the favorite to claim MVP honors. The Oilers captain, who'll turn 25 on Jan. 13, continues to prove his unparalleled value.

Ovi's pursuit of The Great One

Alex Ovechkin's ascent up the NHL's all-time goals list was a persistent storyline throughout 2021. The Washington Capitals sniper passed Mike Gartner for seventh in February, leapfrogged Phil Esposito for sixth in March, surpassed Marcel Dionne for fifth in October, and supplanted Brett Hull for fourth in November.

Ovi's chances of catching Wayne Gretzky for the record remains a frequent debate in hockey circles. The Russian superstar has been fantastic at age 36, and Gretzky himself even said earlier in December he believes his record will fall.

The Eichel saga

Jack Eichel's dispute with the Buffalo Sabres dragged on for a significant stretch of the year before it was finally resolved in early November. The injured captain wanted to undergo a procedure never before performed on an NHL player, and the team refused to approve it.

The stalemate eventually forced the Sabres to strip Eichel of the "C." After months of trade talks, Buffalo finally dealt him to the Golden Knights along with a third-round pick for prospect Peyton Krebs, forward Alex Tuch, a first-rounder, and a second-rounder. Eichel underwent his desired surgery shortly afterward and may be on track to make his Vegas debut in January or February 2022.

Coyotes' dysfunction plummets to new lows

One of the NHL's most evergreen storylines took a few more twists in 2021. The Arizona Coyotes' uncertain future is usually what keeps the team in the headlines, and several scandals ensured that once again. In February, the club came under fire following a report detailing financial and interpersonal issues within the organization.

In August, the city of Glendale told the Coyotes it wouldn't renew the operating agreement for Gila River Arena, meaning the 2021-22 season would be the club's last in the facility. The Coyotes then filed a bid for a new arena in nearby Tempe, but the situation involving their current home escalated further a few months later.

On Dec. 9, Glendale threatened to lock the team out of Gila River Arena if their debt of more than $1 million in unpaid taxes and fees wasn't resolved in the next 11 days. The Coyotes blamed human error and said the next day that they'd paid up in full, a claim multiple reports later contradicted.

As if that wasn't enough, one week before their latest arena drama began, both the Coyotes and Bettman had to deny rumors that the team was on the market with plans to relocate to Houston. It's clear this club will continue to be a talking point in 2022.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs placed William Nylander in COVID-19 protocol on Friday, bringing the total number of players on the team's list up to 13.

Maple Leafs captain John Tavares and goaltender Jack Campbell are also in protocol along with defenseman Morgan Rielly, who landed on the list Thursday.

The other Toronto players who received the designation are forwards Alexander Kerfoot, Ilya Mikheyev, Jason Spezza, Wayne Simmonds, and David Kampf; blue-liners TJ Brodie, Travis Dermott, and Rasmus Sandin; and netminder Petr Mrazek.

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe, assistant Spencer Carbery, goaltending coach Steve Briere, and four other staff members are in COVID-19 protocol as well.

Nylander ranks second on the club with 13 goals and 18 assists over 30 games.

The NHL initially postponed three Maple Leafs games - on Dec. 16, 18, and 19 against the Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, and Seattle Kraken, respectively - due to a spike in COVID-19 cases around the league and in North America as a whole.

The league then began its holiday break - which normally runs from Dec. 24-26 - on the 22nd. The Leafs' clash with the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, Dec. 23 was among those temporarily halted matchups.

On Friday, the NHL postponed all 14 games originally scheduled for Monday, Dec. 27. That included a game between Toronto and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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The NHL is delaying the resumption of its schedule by a day, postponing the 14 games that had been slated for Monday, Dec. 27.

Here are the matchups that will now take place at a later date:

These are the four games scheduled for Tuesday:

The NHL started its holiday break - which normally runs Dec. 24-26 - two days early amid a slew of postponements and players landing in COVID-19 protocol.

The league has now temporarily called off 64 games this season.

The NHL said it expects to provide another update by the end of Sunday.

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The NHL postponed a dozen games originally scheduled from Dec. 20-23 "due to the concern about cross-border travel and given the fluid nature of federal travel restrictions."

All matchups featuring a Canada-based club versus an American team during that span will take place at a later date.

Here are the games that the league will reschedule:

The NHL also said Sunday that its regular-season schedule will continue aside from those postponements, and a decision on the league's Olympic participation is expected "in the coming days."

Shortly after the NHL revealed its cross-border decision Sunday, the league also confirmed the Detroit Red Wings are holding off on playing through at least Dec. 26. Detroit had two games scheduled in that span - a home date against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday and a road clash with the Minnesota Wild on Thursday.

A rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in both countries has already forced five clubs to shut down temporarily and two more to halt play this weekend. On Friday, the NHL postponed all Calgary Flames, Avalanche, and Florida Panthers games until at least Dec. 27. On Saturday, the league added the Boston Bruins and Nashville Predators to that list while putting the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks on pause through Sunday.

The NHL's holiday break will run from Dec. 24-26.

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Dallas Stars forward Tanner Kero was taken off the ice on a stretcher Saturday night after taking a forceful check from Chicago Blackhawks winger Brett Connolly.

Officials handed Connolly a major penalty for interference and a game misconduct after he plowed into Kero near the boards early in the first period. Kero laid on the ice while the Stars' medical staff attended to him, and they eventually took him off.

Dallas later said Kero was conscious, alert, and responsive. He'll be hospitalized as a precaution and for further evaluation.

The 29-year-old is in his second season with the Stars after playing parts of three campaigns with the Blackhawks.

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Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alexander Edler had to be helped off the ice early in Saturday's game against the Minnesota Wild after getting hit hard into the boards.

The 35-year-old landed awkwardly and couldn't put any weight on his left leg after Wild forward Brandon Duhaime checked him along the wall less than three minutes into the first period.

Edler got to the bench with the assistance of the Kings' medical staff and immediately went to the dressing room.

The team later ruled him out for the rest of the game.

Los Angeles has dealt with numerous injuries to blue-liners this season. The Kings' No. 1 rearguard, Drew Doughty, missed 16 games with a knee issue before returning Nov. 30. Top-four defenseman Sean Walker is out for the campaign after tearing the MCL and ACL in his right knee on Oct. 25.

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Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Jon Cooper made history Thursday night, winning his 400th game faster than any other NHL bench boss ever.

Cooper guided the Lightning to a 5-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, achieving the milestone in his 659th contest as a head coach.

The 54-year-old is the longest-tenured active coach in the NHL, having led Tampa Bay since March 2013.

Cooper has led the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships and has also helped the club reach the final in 2015. Tampa's made two other conference final appearances during his stint.

The British Columbia native ranks 39th on the NHL's all-time wins list among bench bosses and 50th in games coached. Cooper's also notably held his current position entirely in the shootout era when regular-season wins have been more common.

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Marc-Andre Fleury put himself in rarefied air Thursday night, shutting out the Montreal Canadiens 2-0 to earn his 500th career victory.

The Chicago Blackhawks goaltender joined Hall of Famers Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy as the lone netminders in NHL history to accomplish the feat.

The crowd at the Bell Centre in Montreal chanted Fleury's name in the final seconds.

Here's a look at the top five on the league's all-time wins list:

Fleury has played all but 21 of those 901 games during the shootout era, in which wins are more common, but there's no questioning his level of success.

The 37-year-old is in his first season with the Blackhawks after playing four with the Vegas Golden Knights. Fleury led the latter squad to a Stanley Cup Final appearance in its inaugural campaign of 2017-18, and he also won three championships over 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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The NHL's Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale of the Pittsburgh Penguins to Fenway Sports Group.

"The purchase remains subject to negotiation and execution of documentation before the transaction can be closed," the league said Thursday.

The new owners signed an agreement to buy a majority interest in the club on Nov. 29. At the time, the sale was subject to league approval and was expected to close by year's end. The purchase price is still unconfirmed.

Previous majority owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle will retain minority shares, and the team's senior management staff will remain in place.

Fenway Sports Group, which also owns MLB's Boston Red Sox and the Premier League's Liverpool, reportedly explored a merger with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment before pursuing the Penguins. MLSE oversees the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA's Toronto Raptors, MLS' Toronto FC, and Scotiabank Arena.

Lemieux and Burkle rescued Pittsburgh from bankruptcy after buying the team in 1999. The Penguins won the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016, and 2017.

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